Tony Aidoo Vows: I'll 'Squeeze' Sammy Awuku

The Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation at the Office of the President, Dr Tony Aidoo, says though he purchased a Ford Expedition of presidential specification at GHC 6,200, the said vehicle was in a battered state.

A group made up of New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials under the umbrella of “The People Must Know”, on Wednesday, accused Dr Tony Aidoo of using his position to “grab” a 2005 Ford Expedition at that paltry sum.

Addressing a news conference in Accra, a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Mr Sammy Awuku, said the car, which was part of former President Kufuor’s fleet of official vehicles, was bought on auction by Dr Aidoo and the money paid to Shargaw Ventures, a licensed auctioneer.

According to him, the deal smacks of corruption as the vehicle was released to Dr Aidoo at a “ridiculously low price".

“The action of Dr. Tony Aidoo constitutes thievery of the highest order...is really evil! This is really criminal! This is very unethical! This is naked robbery!! This is Machiavellian!!!,” Sammy Awuku said

But speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, the Director in Charge of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency insisted that he followed due process in the purchase of the vehicle.

He rebuffed suggestions that he is involved in any situation of conflict of interest in the purchase of the vehicle as the sale process was made public.

“I did not purchase the vehicle from any government agency, I purchased it from an auctioneer who had been given the right to sell the vehicle. I bought the vehicle when I saw an advert in the Ghanaian Times that the vehicle was up for auction...This particular car didn’t have a functional gear box, air-condition unit and the body was in a state of total disrepair...I applied for transfer of ownership and the vehicle was transferred into my name,” he said.

Dr Tony Aidoo also threatened legal action against Sammy Awuku for accusing him of looting state property.